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Best area in New Orleans for 5 pretty tame guy friends?

I am helping to plan my husband's annual reunion trip to New Orleans. I will be responsible for finding their lodging. I was wondering which neighborhood/area in the thick of the action would be best for 5 friends in their mid 40's to share an apartment without a car? They don't drink or do the club scene and are more history buff/walking tour types. They also enjoy live music but typically not in a bar/club, something more mellow. Just wondering if anyone with these same tastes and interests can recommend a great neighborhood or apartment? Thanks!

The French Quarter is a good place to stay, esspecially for a 1st trip to NOLA - even if they aren't party types. There are several blocks on Bourbon Street that are the party atmosphere that most people think of when they think of the FQ, but the rest is not really like that. There are some parts of the FQ that are downright quiet.

I'd agree - either off Bourbon St in the French Quarter, or, if you prefer something even more "civilized", you could look for something in the warehouse district or the garden district. Both are really nice neighborhoods.

Was born in neworleansonline.com go a lot best location here used to own a condo here 1 block to river/quarter on Esplenade
safe area walk to everything even street car on ricier 1 block.Hotel de la Monnaie on the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Come for the location, return for the service.hoteldelamonnaie.com

I've read this thread 3 times and unless I'm completely mistaken (wouldn't be a first for me), the Hotel De La Monnaie is nowhere near the French Quarter.

FiuliaPiraino - I'd definitely advise your husband and his friends to stay in the French Quarter, as it's the most highly-policed part of the city. Partying isn't a requisite! There's wonderful architecture and all sorts of tours and other things to keep people entertained. The Garden District is also beautiful but the neighborhood can be secluded and some areas off the trolley line are quite dark.

For your specific search, I think there are ordinances against individuals renting out their apartments in the FQ, so if I were you I'd double-check before renting through an individual.

There is, however, at least one timeshare in the FQ called the Quarter House. We stayed there years ago with another couple in a suite that was absolutely enormous. The living area must've been at least 20 to 30 feet long with a huge dining table, the kitchen was fully furnished, there was a washing machine and dryer, and I think one bathroom downstairs and two bedrooms and two baths upstairs.

It's in a great location and their rates were very good, too.

Not sure when their trip will be planned, but this place doesn't have a pool.

sf - well, this'll be my biggest mea culpa so far (on Fodor's at least). I went to "the" website for Hotel De La Monnaie earlier today - the pictures were very nice - and then looked it up on mapquest. I saw it was on a bay, but not a bay in New Orleans that I was familiar with.

This is where it really gets ridiculous, and I can't explain what I did to get this goofy map. I asked for directions from the hotel to New Orleans and came up with something that either said it was 43 miles or 43 minutes away. That was the source of my so-called information.

When my day calmed down a little, I went back to check my facts. Oops! Turns out the Hotel De La Monnaie is a little farther away than 43 miles or minutes...it's in France

So sorry, GiuliaPiraino, I sure hope you've had good luck with the Quarter House and weren't put off by my dumb mistake! And sf...well, what can I say?

Despite its 24/7 party reputation, there are more quiet spots in the French Quarter than most people realize. Definitely wouldn't advise staying at the Royal Sonesta (on Bourbon Street), but there are SO MANY quaint, charming, historic, interesting hotels in the French Quarter (see: http://www.neworleans.com/new-orleans-hotels/french-quarter-hotels/).

One interesting note: The Saint Louis Hotel is about to officially re-launch as Hotel Mazarin (I think it's listed correctly on the French Quarter hotel listing above). Major renovation is complete and the hotel & courtyard are beautiful, and there's a really cool new wine bar (Bar Vin) inside that locals who work in the FQ flock to for Happy Hour (particularly the lunch-dinner "happy hour" on Friday. )